President: Normalization of Georgian-Russian relations faster than anyone imagined

Georgia, Tbilisi, June 27 / Trend, N.Kirtskhalia / Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili expressed his confidence in rapid normalization of Georgian-Russian relations. As Georgian presidential administration said, Saakashvili made this statement yesterday during his speech at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) summit in Istanbul. "I think it will happen much faster than we all think and imagine," he stressed. President Saakashvili stressed that Georgia "does not treat Russia as an enemy, despite its occupation of Georgian territory". "We support Russia on its WTO membership and did not interfere in this regard. We have established a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, which is also a serious message to Russian citizens," he said. President Saakashvili underlined that Georgia supplies electricity to Russia, and "when Russia withdraws its troops from Georgia, and it will happen soon, the Georgian-Russian relations will be normalized immediately". Military actions were launched in the Georgian territory, South Ossetia on Aug.8 in 2008. Later the Russian troops occupied the Tskhinvali city and drove the Georgian military back. Russia recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in late August. In response, Tbilisi broke off diplomatic relations with Moscow and announced two unrecognized republics as the occupied territories. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az